Target apparatus with discriminating electrical indicator, and projectiles therefor



Sept. 27, 1966 M. FOREST 3,275,321

TARGET APPARATUS WITH DISCRIMINATING ELECTRICAL INDICATOR, ANDPROJEGTILES THEREFOR Filed Jan. 30, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORGerard M. Foresr BY M r 42/ M iim s Sept. 27, 1966 G. M. FOREST3,275,321

TARGET APPARATUS WITH DISCRIMINATING ELECTRICAL INDICATOR, ANDPROJECTILES THEREFOR Filed Jan. 30, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORGerard M. Forest BY M W ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,275,321 TARGETAPPARATUS WITH DISCRIMINATING ELECTRICAL INDICATGR, AND PROJECTILESTHEREFOR Gerard M. Forest, 3802 Greenly St., Wheaton, Md. Filed Jan. 35,1964, Ser. No. 341,197 8 filaims. (Cl. 273102.2)

The present invention relates to a combination of an electricalindicator type target apparatus which can indicate which of a pluralityof projectiles has hit the target in a particular area, and toprojectiles particularly adapted to be used with the target apparatus.

Heretofore, target apparatus of this type has had a laminated targetpanel in which is embedded two spaced electrically conductive layersseparated by insulating material, the conductive layers being connectedto opposite sides of a power supply through an indicator or signalingdevice of some sort. When the target is struck by a projectile having apenetrating point thereon which is made of a conducting material, thepoint penetrates the target panel and passes through the spacedelectrically conductive layers, and an electrical connection isestablished between the two electrically conductive layers. This causesa current to flow in the circuit, thereby causing the indicator orsignaling device to show that the projectile has struck the target.

Such a target apparatus does not, however discriminate between theprojectiles which strike it. Therefore, if two or more persons arethrowing projectiles at the target, there is no way to tell from thesignals or indications of projectile hits on the target which personsprojectile has scored the hit.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a target apparatuswith electrical indicator means for indicating projectile strikes on thetarget which can discriminate between the projectiles which strike it.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide projectilesfor use with such a target.

The target according to the invention has a ground or return conductivelayer and spaced from this layer are two or more charged conductivelayers which are insulated from each other as well as from the ground orreturn layer. The ground or return layer is connected to one side of apower source .and each of the charged conductive layers are connectedthrough a signaling or indicator device to the other side of the powersource. Projectiles for use with this target have a pointed nose portionof conductive material which has an insulated portion on the surfacethereof. The projectiles which are to be used by one player have theinsulated portion at one point on the nose thereof such that theuninsulated part of the nose will contact only one of the chargedconductive layers and the ground or return conductive layer, and theprojectiles to be used by the other player have the insulated portion atanother point on the nose such that the uninsulated part of the nosewill contact only the other charged conductive layer and the ground orreturn layer. Thus when the target is struck by a projectile of oneplayer an electrical connection is completed across one of the chargedconductive layers and the ground or return layer, and when theprojectile of the other player strikes the target, an electricalconnection is completed across another of the charged conductive layerand the ground or return layer, thereby causing actuation of thesignaling or indicator device corresponding to the player who has thrownthe propectile.

The invention will now be explained more fully by reference to thefollowing specification and claims, taken together with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sketch of a target section with a projectilefrom one player therein;

FIG. 2 is a sketch similar to FIG. 1 with a projectile from anotherplayer therein;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view, on an enlarged scale, of a dart-typeprojectile to be thrown by one player;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of a dart typeprojectile to be thrown by another player;

FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram for a target adapted to atic-tac-toe type of game; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the nose portion ofa projectile for use with the target section of FIGS. 1 and 2.

A preferred form of the target apparatus according to the presentinvention comprises a target 10 .as shown in FIG. 5, which has aplurality of target sections 11. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, each targetsection is a panel made up of at least three layers 12 of insulatingmaterial which is easily penetrated by the pointed end of a projectile.A conventional material which is used for targets is cork, and sincethis is also a good insulator, it makes a satisfactory material for thelayers 12. Spaced from each other by the insulating layers 12 is aplurality of conductive layers, here shown as a first conductive layer13 and a second conductive layer 14. These layers can be any suitableconductive material which will also be easily penetrated by the pointedends of projectiles. A satisfactory material is metal foil, such asaluminum foil, or wire screen, for instance of copper. Spaced from boththe first conductive layer 13 and the second conductive layer 14 is aground or return conductive layer 15 which can be of the same materialas the other conductive layers. This layer is against a backing layer12a, also of insulating material, but harder than the layers 12. InFIGS. 1 and 2 the layers have been shown as separated by air spaces, butin practice they will be pressed tightly together.

A charge conductor 16 for the first charged conductive layer 13 isconnected through a first signal or indicator means 20, here shown as anelectric lamp, to one side of a power supply 18. A charge conductor '17for the second charged conductive layer 14 is connected through a secondsignal or indicator means 21 to the one side of the power supply 18. Thesignal or indicator means should be different from each other, forexample different color lamps. A return conductor 19 connects the groundor return conductive layer 15 to the other side of the power supply 18.

Pointed nose projectiles 22 and 23 of the dart-type for use with theabove described target sections are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Each of theprojectiles has a conventional body 24 with stabilizers, conventionallyfeathers, 25 on the rear part thereof. Each of the projectiles has apointed nose 26 which has a portion which is insulated. The firstprojectile 22 of FIG. 3 has an insulated portion 27a spaced from thepointed end of the nose a distance equal to the spacing of the ground orreturn layer 15 and the first charged layer 13 in the target section.The second projectile 23 of FIG. 4 has an insulated portion 27b spacedfrom the pointed end of the nose a distance equal to the spacing of theground or return layer 15 from the second charged layer 14 in the targetsection. The insulated portion can be a ring of insulation material suchas a high dielectric plas tie in a groove 30 in the conductive materialof the projectile nose 26, as shown in FIG. 6.

When a projectile 22 of the type shown in FIG. 3 is thrown into thesection 11 of the target, the pointed nose 26 will penetrate thesuccessive insulating layers 12 and charged conductive layers 13 and 14,and will strike the ground or return layer -15 and be stopped by theharder backing layer 12a so that the tip of the nose 26 of theprojectile is in contact with the ground or return layer 15. In thisposition, which is as shown in charged conductive layers.

FIG. 1, the insulated portion 27a on the nose is at the position atwhich the nose 26 extends through the first charged conductive layer 13.There will accordingly be no electrical contact between the conductivematerial of the projectile nose 26 and the first conductive layer 13.However, the portion of the nose 26 which extends through the secondcharged conductive layer 14 is in electrical contact with the secondcharged conductive layer 14, and accordingly an electrical circuit willbe completed from the power supply 18, through the conductor 19, theground or return conductive layer 15, the nose 26, the second chargedconductive layer 14, the conductor 17 and the signal or indicator means21. The signal or indicator means 21 will therefore be energized andindicate that a projectile 22 has struck the target section. Similarly,when a projectile 23 of the type shown in FIG. 4 is thrown into thetarget section 11, it will come .to rest in the position shown in FIG.2, and the circuit will be completed through the conductor 16 and thesignal or indicator means 20, thereby indicating that a projectile 23has struck the target section.

The manner in which the apparatus can be adapted to a tic-tac-toe gameboard is shown in FIG. 5. A target 10 has a plurality of nine targetsections each of which' is similar to the target section 11 shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

a The first charged conductive layers are connected to the respectivefirst signal or indicator means 20 20 20 by conductors 16 16 16 and thesecond charged conductive layers are connected to the respective secondsignal or indicator means 21 22 22 by conductors 17 17 17 The targetsections 11 11 and 11 are connected by a common ground 19 to the oneside of a power source (not shown) which is incorporated in an indicatordisplay panel 31 which has the signal or indicator means 20 and 21 forthe various target sections mounted thereon in a pattern correspondingto the pattern of the target sections themselves. Target sections 11 11and 11 are likewise connected by a common ground or return conductor 19and target sections 11 11 and 11 are connected by common ground orreturn conductor 19 In playing the game, it will be seen that when afirst player throws a dart of the type of dart 22 of FIG. 3, for exampleinto the upper left hand corner target section 11 the signal orindicator means 21 will be energized, and if it is say a green lamp, agreen light will show on the panel 31 in the upper left hand cornerthereby indicating that that section of the tic-tac-toe pattern has beenused by the first player. Then if the other player throws a dart of thetype of dart 23 of FIG. 4, for example into the center target section 11the signal or indicator means 20 will be energized, and since it isdiiferent from the signal or indicator means 21, for example a red lamp,a red light will show on the panel 31 in the center position indicatingthat this section has been used by the other player. The playerscontinue to throw their own type of darts into the various targetsections in an effort to get darts into three aligned sections of thetarget, at which time three lights of the same color will be showing ina row on the panel 31.

It will be appreciated that many modifications and variations can bemade in the preferred embodiment described above. For example, it is notnecessary that a dart type projectile be used. Other types ofprojectiles can be caused to penetrate the target, as long as they havethe pointed nose thereon with projectiles of one type having theinsulated portion at one position, and projectiles of the other typehaving the insulated portion at a second position. Likewise, it is notessential that the charged conductive layers and the ground or returnlayer be arranged in the sequence disclosed. It would be entirelypossible to place the ground or return conductive layer first in thesequence of layers to be penetrated by the projectile, or to place itbetween the first and second All that is necessary is that the ground orreturn conductive layer be separated from the other layers and insulatedtherefrom and that the other layers be spaced from and insulated fromeach other. Of course if the sequence of the first and second chargedconductive layers and the ground or return conductive layer is changed,corresponding changes will be necessary in the position of theinsulating material on the nose of the projectile, it being necessarythat the insulating material be at positions on the nose of theprojectile which corresponds to the position at which the nose of theprojectile is adapted to contact all but one of the charged conductivelayers when the projectile comes to rest in the target, the uninsulatedpart of the nose corresponding to the position of only one charged layerand the ground or return layer.

It is of course possible to increase the number of charged conductivelayers to a number greater than two, so that more than two players canplay and the target will discriminate among all the players. In thisevent, it is of course necessary to have a number of signal or indicatormeans corresponding to the number of charged conductive layers, and anumber of different types of projectiles as there are charged conductivelayers. It will also be necessary to have insulated portions on the noseof the projectile at all points on the nose of the projectile excepttwo, the uninsulated portions of the nose being at those points whichare to contact one of the charged conductive layers and the ground orreturn layer when the projectile comes to rest in the target.

Likewise, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that thetarget apparatus can be constructed so as to be used with other gamesthan tic-tac-toe by reshaping and/ or rearranging the sections of thetar-get and the positions of the indicator or signal means on theindicator display panel.

It is thought that the invention and its advantages will be understoodfrom the foregoing description and it is apparent that various changesmay be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the partswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention orsacrificing its material advantages, the forms hereinbefore describedand illustrated in the drawings being merely preferred embodimentsthereof.

I claim:

1. In combination, a target apparatus comprising; a plurality of targetsections each comprised of a ground or return conductive layer, aplurality of charged conductive layers spaced from said ground or returnconductive layer and from each other, layers of easily penetrable andinsulating target material between said conductive layers; a powersupply; said ground or return conductive layer being electricallycoupled to one side of said power supply, each of said chargedconductive layers being electrically coupled to the other side of saidpower supply; a plurality of signal or indicator means corresponding tothe plurality of charged conductive layers and being different from eachother, a signal or indicator means being coupled in the electricalcoupling between each charged conductive layer and said power supply;and a plurality of different types of projectiles corresponding to theplurality of charged conductive layers, each projectile having a pointednose of conductive material, said projectile nose having uninsulatedportions thereon at points which will contact the ground or return layerand only one of the charged conductive layers and having insulationthereon at the points which will contact the other charged conductivelayers when the projectile comes to rest in the target, the uninsulatedportions which contact the charged conductive layers being at adifferent position on each different type of projectile, the rearmostlayer being impenetrable by pointed projectiles, and the other layersbeing easily penetrable by such projectiles.

from each other, layers of easily penetrable and insulating targetmaterial between said conductive layers; a power supply; said ground orreturn conductive layer being electrically coupled to one side of saidpower supply, each of said charged conductive layers being electricallycoupled to the other side of said power supply, two signal or indicatormeans which are diiferent from each other, a signal or indicator meansbeing coupled in the electrical coupling between each charged conductivelayer and said power supply; and two ditferent types of projectiles,each projectile having a pointed nose of conductive material, theprojectile nose on one type of projectile having uninsulated portionsthereon at points which will contact the ground or return layer and oneof the charged conductive layers and having insulation thereon at thepoint which will contact the other charged conductive layer when theprojectile comes to rest in the target, and the nose on the other typeof projectile having uninsulated portions thereon at points which willcontact the ground or return layer and the other of the chargedconductive layers and having insulation thereon at the point which willcontact the one charged conductive layer when the projectile comes torest in the target, the rearmost layer being impenetrable by pointedprojectiles, and the other layers being easily penetrable by suchprojectiles.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 in which the ground or returnlayer is most remote from the face of the target and the chargedconductive layers are between the ground or return layer and the face ofthe target, and said projectile noses have uninsulated points and theinsulated portions are spaced from the points of the noses distancescorresponding to the spacings of the respective charged layers from theground or return layer.

4. A target apparatus comprising: a plurality of target sections eachcomprised of a ground or return conductive layer, a plurality of chargedconductive layers spaced from said ground or return conductive layer andfrom each other, layers of easily penetrable and insulating targetmaterial between said conductive layers; a power supply; said ground orreturn conductive layer being electrically coupled to one side of saidpower supply, each of said charged conductive layers being electricallycoupled to the other side of said power supply; and a plurality ofsignal or indicator means corresponding to the plurality of chargedconductive layers and being different from each other, a signal orindicator means being coupled in the electrical coupling between eachcharged conductive layer and said power supply, the rearmost layer beingimpenetrable by pointed projectiles, and the other layers being easilypenetrable by such projectiles; whereby the various signal or indicatormeans will be energized when there is embedded in the target the pointednose of one of a plurality of diiferent types of projectilescorresponding to the plurality of charged conductive layers, the pointednose being of conductive material, and said projectile nose havinguninsulated portions thereon at points which will contact the ground orreturn layer and only one of the charged conductive layers and havinginsulation thereon at the points which will contact the other chargedconductive layers when the projectile comes to rest in the target, theuninsulated portions which contact the charged conductive layers beingat a different position on each diiferent type of projectile.

5. A target apparatus comprising: a plurality of target sections eachcomprised of a ground or return conductive layer, two charged conductivelayers spaced from said ground or return conductive layer and from eachother, layers of easily penetrable and insulating target materialbetween said conductive layers; a power supply; said ground or returnconductive layer being electrically coupled to one side of said powersupply, each of said charged conductive layers being electricallycoupled to the other side of said power supply, and two signal orindicator means which are different from each other, a signal orindicator means being coupled in the electrical coupling between eachcharged conductive layer and said power supply, the rearmost layer beingimpenetrable by pointed projectiles, and the other layers being easilypenetrable by such projectiles; whereby one of the signal or indicatormeans will be energized when there is embedded in the target the pointednose of one of two different types of projectiles, the pointed nosebeing of conductive material, and the projectile nose on one type ofprojectile having uninsulated portions thereon at points which willcontact the ground or return layer and one of the charged conductivelayers and having insulation thereon at the point which will contact theother charged conductive layer when the projectile comes to rest in thetarget, and the nose on the other type of projectile having uninsulatedportions thereon at points which will contact the ground or return layerand the other of the charged conductive layers and having insulationthereon at the point which will contact the one charged conductive layerwhen the projectile comes to rest in the target.

6. A target apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the ground orreturn layer is most remote from the face of the target and the chargedconductive layers are between the ground or return layer and the face ofthe target.

7. A projectile for use with a target apparatus having a plurality oftarget sections each comprised of a ground or return conductive layer; aplurality of charged conductive layers spaced from said ground or returnconductive layers and from each other, layers of easily penetrable andinsulating target material between said conductive layers, a powersupply, said ground or return conductive layer being electricallycoupled to one side of said power supply, each of said chargedconductive layers being electrically coupled to the other side of saidpower supply, and a plurality of signal or indicator means correspondingto the plurality of charged conductive layers and being dilferent fromeach other, a signal or indicator means being coupled in the electricalcoupling between each charged conductive layer and said power supply,the rearmost layer being impenetrable by pointed projectiles, and theother layers being easily penetrable by such projectiles; saidprojectile comprising a body having a pointed nose of conductivematerial, said projectile nose having uninsulated portions thereon atpoints which will contact the ground or return layer and only one of thecharged conductive layers and having insulation thereon at the pointswhich will contact the other charged conductive layers when theprojectile comes to rest in the target.

8. A projectile as claimed in claim 7 for use with a target in which theground or return layer is most remote from the face of the target andthe charged conductive layers are between the ground or return layer andthe face of the target, said projectile nose having an uninsulated pointand the insulated portions being spaced from i the point of the nose adistance corresponding to the spacing of all but one of the chargedlayers from the ground or return layer.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,168,644 8/1939Browning 273-1022 2,501,218 3/1950 Hill 273102.2 2,629,599 2/1953 Gaut273-102.2 2,693,959 11/1954 Ross 273102.2

2,934,346 4/1960 Mongello 273102.2

3,101,198 8/1963 Williams 273102.2

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner.

4. A TARGET APPARATUS COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF TARGET SECTIONS EACHCOMPRISED OF A GROUND OR RETURN CONDUCTIVE LAYER, A PLURALITY OF CHARGEDCONDUCTIVE LAYERS SPACED FROM SAID GROUND OR RETURN CONDUCTIVE LAYER ANDFROM EACH OTHER, LAYERS OF EASILY PENETRABLE AND INSULATING TARGETMATERIAL BETWEEN SAID CONDUCTIVE LAYERS; A POWER SUPPLY; SAID GROUND ORRETURN CONDUCTIVE LAYER BEING ELECTRICALLY COUPLED TO ONE SIDE OF SAIDPOWER SUPPLY, EACH OF SAID CHARGED CONDUCTIVE LAYERS BEING ELECTRICALLYCOUPLED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID POWER SUPPLY; AND A PLURALITY OFSIGNAL OR INDICATOR MEANS CORRESPONDING TO THE PLURALITY OF CHARGEDCONDUCTIVE LAYERS AND BEING DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER, A SIGNAL ORINDICATOR MEANS BEING COUPLED IN THE ELECTRICAL COUPLING BETWEEN EACHCHARGED CONDUCTIVE LAYER AND SAID POWER SUPPLY, THE REARMOST LAYER BEINGIMPENETRABLE BY POINTED PROJECTILES, AND THE OTHER LAYERS BEING EASILYPENETRABLE BY SUCH PROJECTILES; WHEREBY THE VARIOUS SIGNAL OR INDICATORMEANS WILL BE ENERGIZED WHEN THERE IS EMBEDDED IN THE TARGET THE POINTEDNOSE OF ONE OF A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROJECTILESCORRESPONDING TO THE PLURALITY OF CHARGED CONDUCTIVE LAYERS, THE POINTEDNOSE BEING OF CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL, AND SAID PROJECTILE NOSE HAVINGUNINSULATED PORTIONS THEREON AT POINTS WHICH WILL CONTACT THE GROUND ORRETURN LAYER AND ONLY ONE OF THE CHARGED CONDUCTIVE LAYERS AND HAVINGINSULATION THEREON AT THE POINTS WHICH WILL CONTACT THE OTHER CHARGEDCONDUCTIVE LAYERS WHEN THE PROJECTILE COMES TO REST IN THE TARGET, THEUNINSULATED PORTIONS WHICH CONTACT THE CHARGED CONDUCTIVE LAYERS BEINGAT A DIFFERENT POSITION ON EACH DIFFERENT TYPE OF PROJECTILE.